Grading the free agent signings for the Tampa Bay Lightning

May 9, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Dallas Stars center Luke Glendening (11) passes the puck against the Seattle Kraken during the third period in game four of the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Dallas Stars center Luke Glendening (11) passes the puck against the Seattle Kraken during the third period in game four of the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
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Tampa Bay Lightning
Mar 17, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Conor Sheary (73) skates with the puck as St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn (10) defends in the first period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
  • Three Years, $2,000,000 per year
  • 2022-23 Stats – 37 points in 82 games played

On the surface, this seems like a good deal to grab a player that could potentially get 40 points for just $2 million. He was top 100 in the NHL last season is Cost Per Point (Divide salary cap hit with total points scored).

The problem is gauging if Conor Sheary is going to continue that production once separated from Alex Ovechkin. At 267:57 minutes on the ice together, the line combination of Sheary, Ovechkin, and Dylan Strome was the most used 5 v 5 line for Washington last season.

Sheary and Ovechkin teamed for another 120:33 minutes together with Evgeny Kuznetsov.

And once you separate Sheary from Ovechkin, all his underlying numbers tanked.

So $2 million is a decent price, but Sheary doesn’t hit (just 57 hits last year), doesn’t block shots (just 39 last year), and had his shooting percentage dip to his second-lowest level ever last season.

This makes handing out a three-deal risky, even if it won’t break the bank if he doesn’t work out.